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07-28-25 City Council Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL KCITYor WORK SESSION MINUTES ALISPELL July 28, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. City Hall Council Chambers, 201 First Avenue East Video of this meeting with time stamped minutes can be found at: https://ww-w.kalispell.com/MectingVideos. A. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. B. ROLL CALL Mayor - Mark Johnson: Present Council Member - Kari Gabriel: Present Council Member - Sandy Carlson: Present Council Member - Sam Nunnally: Present Council Chair - Chad Graham: Absent Council Member - Jed Fisher: Present Council Member - Sid Daoud: Present Council Member - Jessica Dahlman: Present via video conference Council Member - Ryan Hunter: Present Staff present included City Manager Doug Russell, City Clerk Aimee Brunckhorst, Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher, and Development Services Director Jarod Nygren. C. DISCUSSION Ownership Request from Northwest Montana History Museum for Central School Property C� City Manager Doug Russell began the staff presentation. 00:03:06 Mayor Johnson asked for a summary of state law related to the disposition of property. Manager Russell provided state law information. 00:04:35 Councilor Nunnally asked questions related to parking within the adjacent lot. 00:05:05 Council Member Hunter asked questions related to state law and spoke regarding the possibility of risk and potential restrictions. Manager Russell talked further about the options available. 00:07:19 Council Member Hunter asked for further clarification. Page 1 of 5 Kalispell City Council Minutes, July 28, 2025 00:07:50 Council Member Hunter asked about the museum's concerns related to raising funds and whether a lease renewal would affect those concerns. He provided discussion about fund possibilities. 00:10:05 A.J. King, Public Comment King, a Board member for the NW Montana History Museum, spoke regarding Council Member Hunter's questions related to loans. 00:11:18 Council Member Dahlman said she has been in attendance online. 00:11:48 Council Member Daoud provided discussion and said he would like to learn more about the proposal. Mayor Johnson asked to hear from the NW Montana History Museum Board. 00:12:39 AJ. King, Board member for the NW Montana History Museum explained he and other members have ties back to when the building was Central School. He explained their request to take over ownership of the building and listed maintenance issues they are currently facing and needed upgrades. 00:15:35 Council Member Carlson asked about visitation numbers at the Museum and visitation growth. 00:16:01 Margaret Davis, Executive Director of the Museum provided information about visitation, the events they put on, and explained they also rent out the facility. She talked about their needs for a climate -controlled room, and heating and cooling issues. She spoke regarding the donations and membership they have. 00:18:21 Council Member Hunter asked about the prevalence throughout the state for Museum ownership. He then asked about possibilities related to loan default. The Mayor, Council, and Board member King discussed loan scenarios. 00:22:48 A legal opinion was requested on how a loan default scenario would play out. Council Member Hunter provided further discussion. 00:24:25 Council Member Fisher provided discussion related to board succession and planning. 00:25:25 King spoke regarding possible deed provisions related to loans. 00:27:22 Mayor Johnson provided discussion. 00:28:39 Council Member Daoud provided discussion. 00:29:10 Curt Anders, Board member for the NW Montana History Museum talked about the difficulties of getting loans and grants when the Museum does not own the building. 00:30:37 Council Member Nunnally asked questions about future expansion plans. Page 2 of 5 Kalispell City Council Minutes, July 28, 2025 Davis answered questions about expansion and then spoke to what volunteers have accomplished. 00:32:32 Council Member Nunnally asked about what the museum needs and wants for the future are and asked questions about the parking lot and grounds around the museum. He then provided discussion. 00:34:29 Council Member Hunter asked whether there are any barriers to the City serving as a pass through for grants and how a pass -through grant would be managed. 00:36:49 Council Member Hunter asked further questions about loan scenarios. Mayor Johnson and Council Member Hunter provided discussion about possibilities related to loan scenarios. Mayor Johnson asked Council for their direction on this matter. 00:39:59 Council Member Nunnally provided discussion in support of the Museum. 00:41:28 Council Member Carlson spoke regarding her experiences at the Museum and in support of the Museum. 00:42:19 Council Member Fisher provided discussion in support of this item. 00:42:35 Council Member Daoud provided discussion in support of this item. 00:42:51 Council Member Hunter provided discussion in support but would like a legal opinion prior to a decision. 00:44:43 City Manager Russell talked about the parking lot and the green space next to the museum. 00:46:05 Mayor Johnson summarized the Councils direction. City Manager Russell talked about next steps and questions to be answered for Council. 2. Kidsports Complex Naming Request � a City Manager Russell provided the staff report on this matter. 00:49:21 Mayor Johnson asked about lease details and history related to Kidsports. Manager Russell provided lease history. 00:51:01 Roy Beekman, Public Comment Beekman of 241 Commons Way provided an overview of previous statements made to Council on this item and explained the support he has heard from community members since then. He talked about the legacy made by Dan Johns at the complex. Page 3 of 5 Kalispell City Council Minutes, July 28, 2025 00:55:19 Mayor Johnson provided discussion in favor of this item and the importance of preserving history. He talked about working with Dan in the past. 00:58:58 Council Member Carlson talked about hearing Dan Johns presenting to Rotary several times a year and provided discussion in favor of this item. 00:59:36 Council Member Nunnally provided discussion in favor of this item and then asked what the fiscal impact would be to making the change. 01:00:47 Council Member Hunter provided discussion in favor of this item. 01:01:17 Council Member Fisher provided discussion in favor of this item but cautioned Council to develop a policy related to changing park or amenity names. He referred to a policy developed by Flathead County. 01:06:09 Council Member Daoud provided discussion in favor of this item. 01:06:59 Council Member Gabriel provided discussion in favor of this item. 01:07:54 City Manager Russell asked for guidance on the name. 01:08:13 Justin Sliter, Public Comment Sliter, President of Kidsports talked about Dan Johns and said that the Kidsports Board would like to have a say in the naming of the Kalispell Youth Athletic Complex. 01:10:04 Council Member Daoud asked that the Board deliberate on the name they would like to use. 01:10:30 Beekman explained that since this is a collaboration between Kidsports and the City he would suggest Dan Johns Kalispell Youth Athletic Complex. 01:11:44 Council Member Hunter provided discussion about the naming of the facility. D. PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Johnson opened public comment. Melanie Golie, Public Comment Golie of St. Matthews Catholic School referred to a letter sent to Council requesting that the City recognize teacher, Sister Judy Lund and explained why they would like the City to honor and thank her. A celebration will take place after Labor Day. Mayor Johnson said he would be in touch. E. CITY MANAGER, COUNCIL, AND MAYOR REPORTS City Manager Russell provided the following report: Staff will begin working on the two items tonight to move them forward. Staff will begin working on a naming policy. Page 4 of 5 Kalispell City Council Minutes, July 28, 2025 01:20:16 Council Member Fisher explained he has received three calls today about speeding and truck traffic on South Woodland Drive. City Manager Russell talked about sharing that information with the Police Department. 01:22:18 Council Member Daoud talked about passing the Conrad Mansion at dusk and seeing a deer utilize the crosswalk. F. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:22 p.m. 4 AiNee Brunckhorst, City Clerk Minutes approved on August 18, 2025 UPCOMING SCHEDULE Next Regular Meeting — August 4, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers Next Work Session — August 11, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers PARTICIPATION Watch council sessions live with the agenda and supporting documents or later with documents and time stamped minutes at: https://www.kalispell.com/MeetingVideos or live or later on YouTube at: www.kalisi)ell.com/YouTube. The City does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its programs, services, activities, and employment practices. Auxiliary aids are available. For questions about disability accommodation please contact the City Clerk at 406-758-7756. Page 5 of 5